Bomb shelter



May 21, 1957 w. H. MILLER BOMB SHELTER Filed May 26, 1955 INVENTOR.WILLIAM H. MILLER BY ATTORNEY United States Patent BOMB SHELTER WilliamH. Miller, St. Louis, Mo.

Application May 26, 1955, Serial No. 511,230

Claims. (Cl. 109-1) [This invention relates in general to buildingstructures and, more particularly, to certain new and usefulimprovements in bomb shelters.

An object of the present invention is to present a bomb shelter whichmay be built in residential yards, being designed primarily for familyusage, and which is so constructed as to provide reliable protectionagainst attack by nuclear bombs.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a bomb shelterwhich is equipped with a movable roofforming closure made of materialscapable of resisting the intense heat and radio-active radiationdeveloped by nuclear bombs.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a bomb shelterwhich may be economically constructed; which is highly durable andprotective; and which is equipped to comfortably contain a number ofindividuals, such as a family unit, during periods of attack.

These and other detailed objects are obtained by the structuresillustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a top planview of a bomb shelter constructed in accordance with the presentinvention.

Figure 2 is an elevation view.

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 3-3 ofFigure 1, showing the closure in dotted lines in open position.

Referring now by reference characters to the drawing which illustratesthe preferred embodiment of the present invention, A generallydesignates a bomb shelter comprising a floor 1 .and a cylindricallyshaped upstanding side wall 2; both being constructed, preferably, ofreinforced concrete, with floor 1 being located spaced-1y below groundlevel. Side wall 2 is of increased thickness at its base, and tapersupwardly and inwardly toward its upper end, the extremity of whichprojects slightly above ground level. Thus, floor 1 and side wall 2cooperate to provide a pit-like chamber b.

Integrally formed with floor 1, and extending downwardly below thecentral portion thereof, is a well-like reinforced concrete extension 3.Embedded in said extension 3 is the lower end of a vertically presentedcylinder 4, on the outer surface of which is welded a plurality ofspaced reinforcing ribs 4. Cylinder 4 projects upwardly through chamberb and extends above the upper end of side wall 2. At a point above tloorlevel cylinder 4 is internally provided with a plate 5 for dividing sameinto .a lower chamber 6 and an upper chamber 7. Chamber 6 constitutes afluid reservoir, while disposed in upper chamber 7 for slideable,fluidresponsive movement therein is a piston 8, having provided adjacentits lower end a series of sealing rings 9. The upper end of piston 8 isexternally threaded for engagement with the interior threads of a collar10, having .a plurality of radially spaced, drilled openings 11 orreceiving bolts 12, which secure to collar a domeshaped or generallyhemispherically-shaped roof or closure 13. The heads of bolts 12 aredisposed Within 2,792,794 Patented May 21, 1957 'ice an annular opening14 formed in the base portion of closure 13. Roof or closure 13 isformed of a relatively thick steel base or shell 15, having a maximuminner diameter equal to the distance between diametrically opposedportions of the upper end of side wall 2. Coveringly disposed over steelshell 15 is a layer of lead 16 for rendering closure 13 resistant toradio-active penetration. The outer portion or surface of closure 13consists of a layer of thermo-insulating material 17, such as,preferably asbestos, to make bomb shelter A resistant to the intenseheat generated by nuclear bomb explosions. The thermo-insulating layer17 extends beyond the lower edge of the lead-covered steel shell 15 toform a skirt portion 18, which when closure 13 is in closed positionwill project downwardly below the upper edge of side wall 2 'forpresentation of its inner inclined face 19 in tight joint formationagainst a complementary inclined surface 20 formed on the outer portionof the upper end of side wall 2. The bottom edge of the lead coveredsteel shell 15 has suitably applied there-to a thickness ofheat-resistant material 21, as asbestos, to provide :a tireproof seal,with the top surface of side wall 2, upon which closure 13 is receivedwhen in closed position.

Extending into reservoir 6 is "a conduit 22, which leads to a pump 23located within chamber b. Provided on the opposite side of pump 23 is aconduit 24, which communicates with the lower end of chamber 7 ofcylinder 4 to serve both as a fluid inlet :and fluid. outlet therefor.Pump 23 is driven by motor 25, which may be started by an electricalswitch 26, conveniently located on the inner face of side wall 2 and incircuit with a remote source of electrical power. Pump 23 is alsoprovided with a hand-operated lever 27 for emergency operation of saidpump 23, in case of failure of electrical power.

Upon operation of pump 23, with closure 13 in closed or loweredposition, fluid will be transferred from reservoir 6 to upper chamber 7for driving piston 8 upwardly to elevate closure 13 into thepositionindicated in dotted lines in Figure 3. In said position individuals mayleave shelter A by climbing through the opening created between theraised closure 13 and side wall 2. Correspondingly, such opening permitsof entry into shelter A, and, once inside the shelter, the occupants mayoperate switch 26 to cause fluid to be returned to reservoir 6 withconsequent lowering of closure 13 until the same is snugly received uponthe upper end of side wall 2. It is, of course, obvious that theoperation of pump 23 may be efiected through a switch located outsideshelter A, such as in ones home or at a point near shelter A, so that ifshelter A is closed individuals progressing thereto, as from a house,may easily cause the opening thereof. The heat-resistant covering 17 andthe inner lead-lining 16 screen the shelter occupants against the hightemperatures and radio-activity, respectively, developing from bombexplosions. The tight seal made between the thermoinsulated portions 18and 21 of closure 13, and the cooperating sections of side wall 2prevent any untoward transfer of heat or radiation through the joint. I

Interiorly bomb shelter A is provided with an arcuate or annular transomor bench 28 having a movable top which permits access to a storagechamber 29, within which may be retained first aid kits, water, food, aradio, batteries and the like. Opening into floor is a drain or sewerpipe 3! Thus, the shelter occupants are provided with all thenecessities to make their stay in shelter A comfortable. If additionalair is required, oxygen may be supplied from tanks carried in storagecompartment 29. It would not be expected that the occupants would berequired to remain in shelter A longer than a few hours at most.

It is to be noted that when closure 13 is in closed position,substantially the only part of shelter A which is exposed is closure 13,and as may best be seen in Figure 2, so that only a rounded surface ispresented which will effectively deflect any concussive waves. The walland floor portions of chamber 1) are fully supported by the surroundingground to protect the shelter ccupants against any shock waves.

It will thus be seen that the bomb shelter of the present invention isadapted forusage in residential neighborhoods, and can effectivelyaccommodate a family unit during any nuclear bomb attack. Bomb shelter Acan be built at a most reasonable cost, and is most reliable, having asimplicity of parts which will not require expensive maintenance.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the form,construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of thebomb shelter may be made and substituted for those herein shown anddescribed without departing from the nature and principle of myinvention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

l. A bomb shelter comprising a reinforced concrete floor below groundlevel, a reinforced concrete cylindrically-shaped side wall upstandingfrom said floor, cylindrically-shaped side wall upstanding from saidfloor, said side wall projecting in its upper portion above groundlevel, and having its upper edge comprising a flat inner portion and anouter downwardly and outwardly inclined portion, a generally dome-shapedroof-forming closure provided above said side wall for disposition uponthe upper edge of said side wall when in closed position, said closurehaving an inner flat bottom edge portion and an outer depending skirtportion for surface-wise abutment respectively against the inner andouter upper edge portions of said side wall to form a secure joint whensaid closure is in closed position, a vertically disposed fluid cylinderprovided in said shelter, a piston disposed in said cylinder forslideable, fluid-responsive movement therein, said closure being engagedto said piston for elevation and lowering thereby.

2. A bomb shelter comprising a reinforced concrete floor below groundlevel, a reinforced concrete cylindricaily-shaped side wall upstandingfrom said floor, said side wall projecting in its upper portion aboveground level, and having its upper edge comprising a flat inner portionand an outer downwardly and outwardly inclined portion, a generallydome-shaped roof-forming closure provided above said side wall fordisposition upon the upper edge of said side wall when in closedposition, said closure having an inner shell portion with a planarbottom edge for abutment against the inner fiat upper edge of said sidewall, said closure further having an outer layer of merino-insulatingmaterial projecting at its bottom edge beyond that of the shell todefine a skirt, said skirt having its inner face complementarilyinclined to the outer upper edge portion of said side wall forcooperating therewith to define a snug joint, a vertically disposedfluid cylinder provided in said shelter, a piston disposed in saidcylinder for slideable, fluid-responsive movement therein, said closurebeing engaged to said piston for elevation and lowering thereby.

3. A bomb shelter as defined in claim 2 wherein a heat-resistant memberis applied to the planar bottom edge of the closure shell.

4. A bomb shelter for family use comprising a door below ground level,an upstanding cylindrical side wall projecting at its upper end aboveground level, there being a well-like chamber extending downwardly fromsaid floor, a cylinder-forming member fixed at its lower end in saidwell-like extension and projecting at its upper end beyond the upperedge of said wall, said cylinder being internally divided into upper andlower compartments, a piston disposed in said upper compartment forvertical siideable movement therein, said lower compartment defining afluid reservoir, pump means for transferring fluid from said lowercompartment to said upper compartment for effecting movement of saidpiston, a dome-shaped roof-forming member secured to the upper end ofsaid piston for joint-forming relationship with the upper edge of saidside wall when said piston is in lowered position and for spaceddisposition from said upper edge of said side wall when said piston isin elevated position for permitting egress from and admission into saidshelter.

5. A bomb shelter for family use comprising a floor below ground'level,an upstanding cylindrical side wall projecting at its upper end aboveground level, and having its upper edge comprising a fiat inner portionand an outer downwardly and outwardly inclined portion, there being awell-like chamber extending downwardly from said floor, acylinder-forming member fixed at its lower end in said well-likeextension and projecting at its upper end beyond the upper edge of saidside wall, said cylinder being internally divided into upper and lowercompartments, a piston disposed in said upper compartment for verticalslideable movement therein, said lower compartment defining a fluidreservoir, pump means for transferring fluid from said lower compartmentto said upper compartment for effecting movement of said piston, adomeshaped roof-forming member secured to the upper end of said pistonfor joint-forming relationship with the upper edge of said side wallwhen said piston is in lowered position and for spaced disposition fromsaid upper edge of said side wall when said piston is in elevatedposition for permitting egress from and admission into said shelter,

a said dorne-shaped roof-forming member having an inner References Citedin the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 592,190 Bond Oct. 19,1897 1,296,688 Noah Mar. 11, 1919 2,189,486 DAmico Feb. 6, 19402,346,196 Starret Apr. 11, 1944 2,704,983 Van Dronkelaar Mar. 29, 1955

